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End Senate filibuster rule

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
12/04/2012 09:03:26 AM EST

The filibuster is a self-imposed Senate rule, not found in the U.S. Constitution.

It basically has come down to a tactic for the losing political party that could not win the last argument. They want to stall long enough to win the next one, or frustrate the majority until the next election.

The prime use of the filibuster now is to keep the majority party from governing successfully.

Nothing gets done. The threat of a filibuster is just as effective as a filibuster itself.

It is the reason the stimulus package was watered down, real comprehensive health-care reform didn't happen and climate change is unlikely to be averted.

No way to run a government. It's tyranny by the minority.

It is time to abolish the filibuster, and let the majority in the Senate conduct business, just like they do in the House.

Consider in the last six years we have had 386 Republican filibusters.

When LBJ was the leader, there was one filibuster.

Get back to basics. Adopt the House rules, which call for a majority to cut off debate. Our local Town Meetings use a majority to "move the question," and take a vote.

The minority will have plenty of time to speak.

Notice the states don't have cloture rules or two-thirds votes either. If you want a democracy to run smoothly, change the filibuster rules.

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